ABSTRACT
Myanmar provides examples that can be claimed both by those telling the story of the predatory multinational company at the root of violence, and by those telling the story of the private sector as a foundation for peaceful development. The Burma Campaign and Earth Rights International call for the international investigation of corporate crimes as well as the placing of severe restrictions on foreign investment in Myanmar, for example, the halting of all dam construction projects. Non-lethal conflict and violence also have important direct consequences for business. Industrial firms listed harassment by corrupt officials as the chief source of criminal losses. Motivations for violence can be manifold and may be psychological, political, social, or economic. The nature of the vast majority of conflict and violence, combined with its purposeful underpinnings, underlines the fact that violence has a strong local dimension. Business enterprises are not only affected by urbanisation, of course, but sometimes drive it.
